POTTR

10/06/2024

Many people in western North Carolina still have not been able to get consistent cellphone reception, if they get any at all. In Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, 40 percent of its 347 cellular towers were not working on Friday (10/4/24), according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Service has been restored in some areas after Hurricane Helene, but many people are still unable to communicate by phone, which has hampered relief efforts, worried loved ones and complicated daily life.

09/27/2024

Sometimes "old school" is the best way.

When huge outages happen, going old school has its advantages over smartphones.

09/10/2024

When wildfires destroy the wireless cellular telephone infrastructure, how can people summon emergency help?? By using the analog telephone system, which was designed for continued robust service, even after large scale disasters. Make sure your analog telephones are up and running 24/7 by installing POTTR. It is being used across the nation, in schools, in elevators, in public locations.
Live photo from a wildfire approaching communication towers and equipment:

09/04/2024

Sad news today from outside Atlanta, Georgia.

A suspect was in custody after the shooting on Wednesday morning at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

08/28/2024

Rural communities still need landlines.

"The power goes out multiple times a year, usually caused by fierce wind and other weather events. But the landline always works, making it the best option if there’s an emergency and someone needs to call 911."

Providers want to scale back landline service, but people with poor cell reception still rely on it for emergencies.

08/20/2024

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/forgotten-resilience-landlines-why-we-shouldnt-abandon-efra%C3%ADn-antonio-gys0e

This article examines how the shift from landlines to cell phones has left us more vulnerable to communication breakdowns during emergencies and natural disasters. It delves into the technical reasons behind landlines' resilience and the potential consequences of our current reliance on less robust systems.

08/13/2024

"The county sent at least 14 alert messages to cellphones, warning residents to evacuate, the lawsuit said. The county later discovered all 21 cell towers serving West Maui, including in Lahaina, experienced total failure."

Maui County is suing major cellular carriers for failing to properly inform police of service outages during Hawaii's deadly wildfire last summer.

08/05/2024

“We’re in the highest state of ambiguity, uncertainty and anxiety around school safety than we’ve ever been in my more than three decades in this field,” said Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, which consults for school districts.

As false information about elections continues to spread, many school leaders in Maricopa County have closed their doors to the democratic process.

07/25/2024

Sad news from Canada, our friendly northern neighbor. Hoping that the Canadian teams can contain the fire soon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “every necessary resource available” was being mobilized as wildfires rage across the western Canadian province.

07/19/2024

POTTR monitors your landlines, making sure they're working when cell phones go down.

Ahmed Al Sharif, a software engineer of nearly 20 years, was flying from Barcelona to the UK when the global outage disrupted his travel.

07/16/2024

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/06/california-rejects-att-request-to-end-carriers-landline-phone-obligation/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR09zze5nkwYZYMyAZn8OVtlCHV1T4v0ub-omuP8KAiEeDcrPN1odHhTdCw_aem_Fc9YP6d-ruu5ufWq2IHjHw

State dismisses AT&T application to end Carrier of Last Resort obligation.

07/16/2024

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/16/911-emergency-system-brink-of-crisis/74411456007/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1GR1m16ITYeMTH8ry4RFURb2Y2MS5vVoqkExxP5CPvDkPJjwhwA7JJLG4_aem_H6s5DMmBZTBT9XKOeLIKlA

911 outages have hit at least eight states this year. Problems plaguing emergency-response communications include differing capabilities and funding.